| I drive a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. Yesterday I was | | | | down the center of the radiator with your hand, it |
| making a long trip home and about 20 minutes into the | | | | should remain pretty hot. If the bottom of the radiator is |
| trip the car said it was overheating. The coolant level | | | | MUCH cooler than the top, you have a restriction in the |
| was fine, and as soon as we would pull over the | | | | radiator and you probably need to replace the radiator. |
| temperature would drop back to normal (before we | | | | Same scenario as above, with engine hot - if the top |
| even got to a complete stop.) Later in the trip it | | | | and the bottom of the radiator seem warm but not |
| stopped cooling down when we would pull over and | | | | HOT...I would replace the thermostat as a guess. |
| there was a sort of popping/gurgling noise that | | | | Something is not allowing the coolant to flow through |
| sounded like it was sort of behind the dash.Took it to | | | | the system properly. |
| the mechanic today and they have cleaned the | | | | I would NOT expect a 3 year old car to have a |
| radiator, checked the head gasket, etc. and they are | | | | restricted radiator (caused by rust or calcium deposits) |
| baffled. | | | | but a faulty thermostat is possible. |
| Any ideas? | | | | Your car is also equipped with an electric cooling fan |
| Hi there, | | | | located near the radiator, next time it runs hot pull over, |
| The VERY first thing that needs to be done is a | | | | get out of the vehicle with the engine running and |
| "cooling system pressure test" this will determine if | | | | make sure this electric fan is ON. It will come on when |
| there is a coolant leak in the system. You want to | | | | the engine heats up and go off when not needed, you |
| check the coolant level INSIDE the radiator, not just | | | | might also have another electric fan near the radiator |
| what is in the plastic jug on the side of the engine. | | | | that will be for the a/c compressor and should be on |
| This car is pretty new still, is it under warranty or are | | | | when the a/c is ON. |
| there high miles? Since you mentioned that it ran hot | | | | The noise you hear could just be the coolant inside the |
| while you were driving, and as soon as you pulled over | | | | engine and the heater core (located inside the dash on |
| and slowed down the temperature returned to | | | | the passenger side) boiling...which makes the sound |
| normal...my first thought would be that there is lack of | | | | you describe. Next time it runs hot, turn on the heater |
| coolant circulation. Low coolant level can also cause | | | | full blast, it will probably reduce the engine temperature |
| lack of circulation, so make sure the radiator is FULL. | | | | enough so you don't have to pull over. |
| If the coolant level is full, check the temperature of the | | | | Of course it only take a few seconds of severe |
| radiator - with the engine HOT. Caution, do not burn | | | | engine overheating to damage the engine, so when in |
| yourself!!! Start at the top of the radiator in the center | | | | doubt pull over and turn off the engine. |
| and feel it with your hand...it should be very hot, move | | | | |